Religion and Globalisation

Question 1

What are the 3 explanations for how religion has responded to a globalised world?

Answer 1

• rise in religious fundamentalism
• religion has lead to the clash of civilisations
• religion is a form of cultural defence

Question 2

According to Giddens (1999), what is religious fundamentalism?

Answer 2

Fundamentalists are traditionalists who want to revert back to the basic teachings of their faith. They apply extremely old ideas to the modern world and look back on the past as the “golden age”

Question 3

According to Giddens (1999), what are the 5 key characteristics of religious fundamentalism?

Answer 3

• literal interpretation of texts
• “us and them” mentality
• embrace modern technology
• patriarchal in nature
• conspiracy theorists

Question 4

According to Giddens (1999), explain the literal interpretations and the “us and them” mentality characteristics of religious fundamentalism?

Answer 4

Unquestionable loyalty towards the truth of scriptures and provides answers to all areas of life including family and politics. For example sharia law

Huge gap between them and the global community and look down upon people who are not in their group

Question 5

According to Giddens (1999), explain the embrace new technology and patriarchal in nature characteristics of religious fundamentalism?

Answer 5

Use technology to recruit new members, ISIS has a twitter account

Believe women should take on subordinate roles and take steps to deny women opportunity

Question 6

According to Giddens (1999), explain the conspiracy theory characteristic of religious fundamentalism?

Answer 6

Question everything about mainstream society.

Question 7

What are the 3 reasons as to why religious fundamentalism is increasing in a globalised world?

Answer 7

• product of modernity
• response to the cosmopolitanism of modernity
• common in monotheistic faiths

Question 8

According to Davie (2013), how is fundamentalism a product of modernity?

Answer 8

Claims that fundamentalism arises when those with traditional beliefs feel threatened by modern ideas and feel pressured to protect them.

Question 9

According to Giddens, how is fundamentalism a product of modernity?

Answer 9

Fundamentalists see modern values as being a direct challenge to their religious beliefs. For example, family diversity and LGBT rights, fundamentalists will therefore lash out and protest against these liberal ideas

Question 10

Evaluation of the view that fundamentalism is a product of modernity?

Answer 10

Fundamentalists don’t always attack modern socieites

Question 11

According to Giddens, how is fundamentalism a response to the cosmopolitanism of postmodernity?

Answer 11

Cosmopolitanism is a way of thinking which embraces modernity. Cosmopolitan people are forward thinking and tolerant of opinions that differ from theirs. They can adapt their opinions with fact and respect others peoples individual beliefs. These people are known to be reflexive; they constantly evaluate the world around them

Question 12

According to Bauman (1992), how is fundamentalism a response to the cosmopolitanism of postmodernity?

Answer 12

Two responses to living in a postmodern world

• project identity (where people embrace the world)
• resistant identity (people feel threatened)

Question 13

Evaluation of the view that fundamentalism is a response to the cosmopolitanism of postmodernity?

Answer 13

Some mainstream religions reject cosmopolitan way of thinking

Question 14

According to Bruce (2008), how is fundamentalism more common in monotheistic faiths?

Answer 14

Monotheistic religions are faiths that revolve around 1 god. Example of Christianity and Islam. They are renowned for engaging in fundamentalist behaviour because such religions are less tolerant. Compared to Hinduism and Sikhism, X and Islam are dominated by an authority male-figure which explains why fundamentalism is patriarchal in nature

Question 15

Evaluation of the view that fundamentalism is more common in monotheistic faiths?

Answer 15

Divisions exist with Christianity and Islam, meaning not all factions believe in a male supierior

Question 16

According to Huntington (2002), what is the clash of civilisations?

Answer 16

The world is made up of civilisations as well as individual countries.

Question 17

According to Huntington (2002), what is a civilisation? (clash of civilisations)

Answer 17

A collection of people that have a shared culture, heritage or value system. For example, Western Civilisation is made up of most of Europe, the USA e.c.t.

Question 18

According to Huntington (2002), how do civilisations clash?

Answer 18

Globalisations bring nations together, causes incompatible societies to collide. Huntington decides that the clash between Western and Islamic society as the greatest. The west is more developed, and has dominated globally for centuries. The west claims it is under threat from Islam alleging that it is a barbaric culture that is trying to destabalise the west through terrorism

Question 19

Evaluation of the clash of civilisations theory?

Answer 19

Discriminatory theory

Question 20

According to Bruce (2002), how is religion used as cultural defence?

Answer 20

Globalisation has meant that different cultures often come into contact with another, so use their religion as a form of protection. This is particularly the case when one society has tried to enforce its way of life upon another. When this occurs, it is called cultural defence.

Question 21

According to Bruce (2002), how was religion used as cultural defence in Poland?

Answer 21

After WW2, Poland was placed under Soviet rule. Having previously been a Catholic country, under communism it was stripped of its religious identity and was forced to follow Soviet rule. For 40 years it suffered a range of problems such as poverty e.c.t. In the 1980s a trade union movement called Solidarity began to emerge. Lech Welesa was anti communist and wanted to restore Polish heritage. The Catholic Church endorsed this and worked together to host meetings and rallies which enabled for Welesa to be President of Poland when communism fell.

Question 22

According to Bruce (2002), how was cultural defence used in Iran?

Answer 22

In the 1950s, the UK and USA installed a pro capitalism regime in Iran under the Iranian Shah and a constitutional monarchy. The Shah turned Iran into a modern nation banning traditional Islamic practices including the Muslim calendar. However in 1979, the Iranian Revolution took place which overthrew the Iranian Shah and turned Iran back into Islamic Country.

Question 23

Evaluation of the view that religion can be used as a form of cultural defence?

Answer 23

Political control is replaced with religious control which is more detrimental to society

Question 24

What are the 3 reasons as to why religion has contributed towards globalisation?

Answer 24

• Hinduism and Indian Socioeconomics
• post-Confucian values in creating East Asian economies
• Pentecostalism in instilling Protestant work ethic in Latin America

Question 25

According to Nanda (2008), how did Hinduism modernised Indian socioeconomics?

Answer 25

Conducted research into how Hinduism shaped globalisations affects in India. In the 20th Century, the middle class in India found themself excelling in profesions such as IT. As they were richer, they should have become more secular as was the case in Europe in the 1700s. However, the more prosperous the middle classes in India became, the more religious they became.

Question 26

According to Nanda (2008), what did the Study for Developing Societies 2007 find about religion in India? (Hinduism and India)

Answer 26

Middle class Indians were more likely to express a stronger religious identity than those in rural, more poorer areas.

Question 27

According to Nanda (2008), WHY did Hinduism lead to a prosperous middle class? (Hinduism and India)

Answer 27

Hinduism has adapted itself to modern society. Traditional Hinduism promoted a lifestyle of frugality and spirituality over materialism. However, over time contemporary Hinduism teaches that wealth and prosperity is success encouraged by Hindu Gods. Gurus also began to teach that the wealth accumulated could be spent on celebrations such as religious festivals

Question 28

According to Nanda (2008), why is Hindu Ultra Nationalism? (Hinduism and India?

Answer 28

Growing pride of the Indian middle classes lead to the emergence of nationalism. This is where huge swathes of the country believe that India is superior which has paved the way for India to become more dominant on the world stage

Question 29

Evaluation of the view that Hinduism has contributed to globalisation in India?

Answer 29

Not the main cause of social change

Question 30

According to Redding (1990), what was the role of post-Confician values in creating East Asian Tiger economies?

Answer 30

During the 1700s, Confucian discouraged people from pursuing a materialistic lifestyle, instead promoting a life of spirituality.
However by the mid 20th century, nations such as China began to change (post-Confucian era) where it was now taught to be hard working as long as the rewards would lead to self improvement
Change is responsible for East Asian economies, productive business began to emerge which filled the gaps when Europe deindustralised in the late 20th century

Question 31

According to Berger (2003), what was the role of Pentecostalism in instilling a Protestant work ethic into Latin America?

Answer 31

Focusses on how peoples religious choices can determine how successful they will be. Traditionally, people practiced catholicism which directed people towards a lifestyle of prayer and seeking salvation.
Since the 20th century however, pentecostalism spread which advocated the ideas of discipline and hard work were key for pleasing god. This was embraced by members of the Latin America community which thus became more economically successful